A LAST-DITCH bid to stop the scrapping of Education Maintenance Allowances failed last night.
Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, Jon Cruddas, said the abolition of the �30 grants was a “smack in the teeth” for thousands of teenagers after a Commons motion urging the Coalition Government to rethink the plans was defeated yesterday.
The crunch vote came after research suggested scrapping EMAs would lead to 70 per cent of those receiving it dropping out of school or college.
Labour MP for Barking, Margaret Hodge, said the Government had “betrayed” cash-strapped students.
Dagenham tourism student Jade Ellison, 19, told the POST stopping EMAs was “unfair” and Sydney Russell pupil Theresa Matrure, 15, said she would be forced to work part time to do her A-levels.
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